Lubricating device for engines.



PATENTED NOV. 10, 1903.

J. P. KLEBEE. LUBEICATING DEVICE EUR ENGINES.

APPLIUATION FILED JAN. 13, 1903.

2 SHBETS-BHE-ET 1.

H0 MODEL.

, @Wenig/r:

No. 743,523., l PATENTBD Nov. 10,1903.

J. P. KLEBER. l LUBRICATING `mavm POR ENGINES.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 13, 1903.

.N0 MODEL.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

figg@ UNITED Tn'rns Patented November 10,4903;

Afl-ENT '.FFIC@ JOHN P. KL'EBEP., oF PITTSBURG, PEN'NsYL'vANIA-,AssIGNoaor ONE-HALF To A. o. GANFIELD, ou PrrTsuURc, PENNSYLVANIA. f

LUBRICATI'NG DEVICE FOR ENGINES..

S?ECIFIC`ATION forming part of-lLetters Patent No. 743,523, dated November 10, 1903.'- Applioation iiled January 18, 1903- Serial No. 138.837. `\No modell."

.'lo aai-whom it may concern:

, Be itknewn that I, JOHN P. KLEER, a resi dent of Pittsburg, vin the county otAllegheny .and State ot" Pennsylvania, have invented a' new and usefullmprovexnent inLubricating Devices' for' Engines; and I dohereby 'declarel vlthe following to be a full, clear', and exact description thereof. Y p

My invention relates to lubricating devices for steam-engines; and its object is to provide means whichwil1 collect the waste oil escaping from the. exhaust, separate `it from` the water of condensation and relieve it from the pressure of the steam, and then return it to thelengine to be used over again,1thus resulting in. a-.large savingof oil, as well as keeping the' engine thoroughly lubricated, so

thatthe wear and consequent repairs are greatlyreduced.

tion of the piston-rods carries the oil into the cylinders, whence it escapes through the valves into the exhaust, thus being wasted.

Manufacturers of these engines and engineers have generally supposed that theaddition of a gallon of oil to the crank-case will suffice to keep the engine lubricated for several weeks. I have discovered, however,that the Waste of oil through the exhaust goes on very rapidly, as much as a gallon passingl out through the exhaust froma small engine in the course of an hour. As a consequence these engines as heretofore handled have been run -with practically no or at least a very insuliicientv supply of oil, thus causing them to wear rapidly and making frequent repairs necessary. .l

The object of my invention is to provide means which wi-ll collect the oil escaping through the exhaust of these engines, separate the same'from lthe steam and water of condensatiomand return it to the crank-case,

` thus keeping the enginewell lubricated and inyf-inve11tion applied thereto.

vertical section through the oil and water- -With lsteam-engines which' are provided4 greatly reducingthe wear and consequent re' pairs, aswell as theamount of oil used.

-To this end my invention consists, generally stated, in connecting to the exhaust of .the engine suitable devices for separating the waste oil from the steam and water of congine.

The invention also consists in certain details of construction, which are hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings,'Figure 1\ is afront view of an upright engine, showing Fig. 2 is a separa-tor, and Fig. 3 is a horizontal section through an' oil and .steamseparator suitablefor my purpose.

In the drawings I have shown my invention applied to an upright engine of the l/Vestinghouse type, in which the cylinders 1 are placed in a vertical -position and have their nected to the horizontal crank-shaft-3. The valve-chest 4 isl located at the upper ends of the cylinders l, and the valves are actuated by a bell-crank lever 5connected by the rod 6 to a crank 7 on the fly-wheel 3. The steam- 'pistonrods 2 projectingdownwardly and conv inlet pipe is shown'at 9 and the exhaust-pipe at 10'. In engines ofvthis type the cranks and crank-shaft are inclosed in-a casing Il,

the crank-shaft extending through suit-able tight boxes 12 at the ends ot the casing. It is the custom to ill'the crank-case with water to a certain level and then pour in several gallons of oil, which iioats on top of the Water, and during the rotation of `the cranksV the Water and oil are` chui-ned up and the cranks,

connecting-rods, piston-rods, governors, bearings, and the like thoroughly lubricated. Oil is addedfrom timeto time, and for this purpose a pipe 13 leads into the upper portion ot' the crank-case, this pipe also serving as a vent to prevent the accumulation of pressure in the crank-case. It lis also customary to provvide an overflow-pipe 14E, leading from the crank-case at a point slightly above the level of the water and oil therein, so as to prevent an excess of water'and .oil in the case. This the market.. In the drawings I have shown larger quantities than the water.

overliow-pipe leads toa collector 15, Irom which the oil is removed from time to time and returned to the crank-case. Y

All ofthe parte of the engine so far described are or may be of lthe usual or any preferred construction, and the particular engine shown in the drawingsv has been selected for theipurpose of illustration merely. My invention is not limited te this precise form of engine, but is adapted for any engine having an -inclosing crank-case in which oil or oil and water is placed. I have discovered that in engines of this type the oil and water in the crank-case is carried by the piston-rods up into the cylinders, from whence it passes into the valve-chest and through the valves to the exhaust, this waste going on very rapidly, especially as to the oil, which wastes in sequence it does not take long to entirely exhaust or at least greatly reduce the amount of 'oil in the crank-case, so that the engine will be running with insufficient lubrication. My invention provides means for collecting `the oil which passes out withthe exhauststeann and returning-the same to the'crankcase.

The oil must be first separated-fromme exhaust-steam, and for this purpose I may employ-any device capable of separating liquids from steam, of which a number are on one well-known type of such separator, known as the Webster oilseparator." This comprises a casing 16, connected in the exhaustpipe, so that the steam must pass through the same. In this casing area number of baille-plat es, consisting-of verticallyfarrauged.

metallic strips 17, having their edges curved or bent, as shown in Fig. 3, to form pockets in which the liquids, such as the oil and water of condensation, are trapped. The exhauststeam as it passes through this casing impinges against these .curved 'metallic `strips and lis deflected thereby from one to the other. The water of condensation and oil .are :caughtor trapped in the 'pockets formed by the bent edges of the baffle-plates and tricklesdown thesame and accumulates in the bottom ofthe casing. The casingis provided at its bottom with an outlet having a suitable valve 18.

The separator shown in the Adrawings has long been used to separate the cylinder-oil from the exhaust water of condensation preparatory to'reusing the latter as feed-water for the boiler; but the oil has generally been conducted to the sewer and wasted.- Any other well-known device for separating oil from steam may be used for my'purpose equally as weliasl the particular:

separator shown. f

A ,certain amount of steam 'and a considerf able quantity of water of condensation necessarily pass along with the oil from the separator 16, and if it were taken directly to the vcrank-case it. would introduce into the same an excess o f water as well as create such a vdrained and thevsame cleaned.

pressure in the case as to force'the water andoil outat the bearings. I therefore pass-the oil and water through a device which will relieve thesame from all pressure and separate out from the same the excess of water of con-- densation and then return the oil with` the proper proportion of water to the crankfcase.' This device comprises a casing 19 of suitable sizeaud height, preferablybeing a. cylinder,

as shown, and 'having an inlet 20 at or near its upper end,whic h is connected, by means of a pipe 21, to the valved outletf18 of the oil and steam separator 16. At the lower end of the casing 19 is an outlet for-the water, to which is-conuected a pipe 21a, which extends upwardly to a considerable distance, makes a bend, as at 22, and then extends downwardly, as at pipe 23. In order that the engineer may seewhether the device is operating properly, the'pipe 23 is provided at its lower'end with an ordinary cock 24 and'has its end just above a funnel 25 connected vto a pipe 26,; which leads tof the sewer or other convenient place. The lower end of the ypipe 23 is locatedslightly above the topzof the funnel '25, so that the engineer can see whether' the water is flowing'properly.

About midway of the height of the casing 19'and preferably a'slight'distance below the level of the bend .22- of the water-outlet'pipe is the oilou'tlet 27, from which a pipe 28 leads back to the crank-case of the engine, and this can con venently be accomplished by connecting the lower` endof'said pipe to the vent- IOO pipe 13. .A sulitable valve 29k is placed-.in the pipe 28. As some steam is liable to nd'itsway into the casing 19, I'provide 'the upper end of the latter with a pressure-relieving yvent 30, which is connected to a pipe .31, leading'to the atmosphereorother; convenient This pipe 31 will lalso be connected lieve this outlet-pipe of anypressure that might accidentally nd its way into the same.

The lower end of thecasing -19 is provided with a suitable drain-cock 32, through which the entire contentsof the chamber may be l I also preferably connect to the casing a suitable watergage 33 of any well-known type to indicate the height of the liquids in the casing. As it is necessary to add fresh oil. to the engine from time .to time, I provide a suitable oil-inlet pipe leadinginto the casing 19 a short distance' below the oil and water inlet 2O. lThis pipe is provided at its upper end with a cup -35, into which the oil is poured, and a suit-1k able capcrplug is used for closing the same. `'The oil and water escaping into the overflow- 'into thecas# l collector' y15 can also be 'poured ing 19 through the inlet 34.

The oil and water of condensation entering the casing 19. is necessarily quite warm, and the oil when returnedt'o the engine should be cool. Preferably the casing 19 will be provided with a wauw-jacket 36, having a waterinlet 37 and outlet v83, so that a circulation of of the oil and a considerable amount of water of condensation, as well as a small quantity of steam, rind their way into the casing19. The water being heavier than the oil naturally goes to the bottom, while the oil iioats on top. The water will accumulate in the casing until it is of sufficient height to iloW out through the pipe 21. The bend 22 is slightly higher than the oil-outlet 27; but the water in the casing 19 will not reach quite the level of the water in the outlet-pipe 21, for the reason that the oil fioating on the water by its weight holds the water-level in the casing slightly lower than in the outlet-pipe 21. The oil ioating on top of the water flows out of the opening` 27 and through the pipe 28 back to the crank-case. The valve of the latter pipe will preferably be open,and the oil passes in practically a constant stream back to the crankcase. A certain amount of water also passes along with the oil; but this is not detrimental, as the crank-casing must contain a certain proportion of water. Should any excess of water tind its way into the casing 19, it'immediately goes to the bottom of the casing and flows out through the outlet 21. The device therefore separates from theoil all excess of water and returns to the crankcasing all of the oil and the proper proportion of water. The vent-pipe 3l relieves the casing and outlet-pipe of pressure, sc ,that the proper working ofthe device is not disturbed.

Whenever it is necessary to add fresh oil to the engine, it is pouredin at the opening 34, and as the oil ioats on top it will find its way through the outlet 2T and pipe 28 to the crankcase. The oil and water taken from the over flow-collector 15 also will be poured into casing 19 through the opening 34, and no matter how much Water may be contained with the oil it will cause practically no increase in the amount of water going back to the crank-casing, as the excess of water immediately drops to the bottom of casing. 19 and passes ont through the outlet 2l, the oil, however, being retained in the casing and finding its way back to the crank-case.

By means of my device it is possible, if desired, to entirely separate the oil from the Water, so that no water will pass back to the engine. This can h'e accomplished either by slightly lowering the bend 22 of the outletpipe, so that the water in the casing can never quite reachthe height of the outlet 27, or by keeping the valve 29 in the pipe 28 closed in order that the accumulation of oil in the casing will force the waterlevel down, the water constantly escaping through the outlet-pipe. The valve 29 will be opened at intervals and the oil on top of the water will flow back to the crank-case; but no Water will go vwith the same. I prefer, however, to keep the val-ve 29 open constantly, so .that no attention on the part of the engineer is necessary.

With my device the oil is used over and over again, thus making a very large saving inthe amount of oil used and also preventing the possibility of running the engine without sufficient oil. Furthermore, no cylinderoil is necessary, for the reason that the oil passingup through the cylinders necessarily passes through all joints in the valve mechanism and keeps the same sufficiently lubricated. My device, furthermore, relieves the engineer of all responsibility for seeing that the engine is properly lubricated, and even with a careless engineer no damage can result to the engine, as all of the oil passing out with the exhaust-steam is automatically returned to the crank-case. y

What I claim as my invention, and desir to secure by Letters Patent, isv 1. In a steam-engine, the combination with the cylinder and crank, of an inclosing case for the crank adapted to contain oil, a water and oil separator connected to the exhaustoutlet of the cylinder and having an outlet leading back to thecrank-case and means for cooling said voil before it is returned to the crank-case.

2, ln a steam-engine, the combination with the cylinder and crank, of an inclosing case for thecrank adapted to contain oil, a steam and liquid separator connected to the exhaust of the cylinder, and a water and oil separator connected to said steam and liquid separator and hav-ing an oil-outlet leading back to the crank-case.

3. In a steam-engine, the combination with the cylinder and crank, of an inclosing case for the latter adapted to contain oil, means connected to the exhaust from the cylinder for separating the oil from the steam and from the excess of water of condensation and relieving the same from pressure, and a connection from said means to the crank-case.

4. ln a steam-engine, the combination with a cylinder and crank, of an inclosing case for the latter adapted to contain oil, a casing connected to the exhaust of said engine, a wateroutlet leading from the bottom of said casing, an oil-outlet in said casing above said wateroutlet, and a pipe leading from said oil-outlet to the crankcase.

5. In a steam-engine, the combination with a cylinder and crank, of an inclosing case for the latter adapted to contain oil, a casingconnected to the exhaust of saidengine, a wateroutlet leading from the bottom thereof, a pipe connected to said outlet and extending upwardly for a considerable distance and then extending downwardly, an oil-outlet in said casing at a point slightly below the bend in IOO IIO

. said oil-outlet to the crank-case.

6. In a steam-engine,thecombination with the cylinder and crank, of an inclosing case for the latter adapted to contain oil, a Water and oil separating device comprising a casing, an inlet into the upper end thereof connected with the exhaust from the cylinder, a pressure-Vent for said casing, a Water-outlet from the bottom of said casing, a pipe connected to said outlet, said pipe extending upwardly a considerable distance and then extending downwardly, an oil-outlet from said casing between the inlet to, and the Water-outlet from, said casing, and apipe leading from said oil-outlet to the crank-case.` 7. Ina steam-engine, the combination with the cylinder and crank, of an inclosing case for the latter adapted to contain oil, a steam and oil separatorconnected to the exhaust of said cylinder, an oil and water separator connected to said steam and oil separator, a water-outlet from said oil and water separator, and an outlet therefrom leading to the crankease, and a pressure-relieving Vent in the upper end of said oil and Water separator'.

8. In a steam-engine, the combination with the cylinder and crank, of an inclosing case for the crank adapted to contain oil, means I connected to the'exhaust of said cylinder for separating the oil and water of condensation from the steam, an oil and Water separator connected to said means, a pressure-relieving vent from the upper end ofl said oil andwater separator, a water-outlet from thevlower y end therefro'm,an oil-outlet also leading therefrom to the crank-case, and a water-jacket surrounding the same. 9. In a steam-engine, the combination with the cylinder and crank.of an inclosing case for the crank adapted tocontain oil, an oil and water separator connected to the exhaust o f the cylinder, said oil and water separator comprising a casing, a water-outlet from the bottom thereof, an oil-outlet therefrom between the inlet thereto and the water-outlet therefrom, a pipe leading from said oil-outletv to the crank-case, a pressure-relieving vent for said casing, and an openinginto said cas# ing/above the oil-outlet through which oil may bc poured into said casing. i

In testimony 'whereof I, the said JOHN P. KLEBER, have hereunto set my hand.

JOHN P. KLEBER.

Vitnesses:

F. W. WINTER, ROBERT TOTTEN. 

